In March of this year, the Common Council adopted a new Zoning Code, which will go into effect once the new Zoning Maps are adopted. At the Open House, neighbors will have a chance to review the draft Zoning Maps, which assigns new zoning districts to all properties within the city. Planning and Zoning staff will be present to answer questions and collect comments.

"The new zoning maps will assign a zoning category to properties in the city that will permit uses and densities and describe lot standards. Coop housing and neighborhood conservation district overlays are just two issues that are of interest to District 6 residents," Ald. Rummel said. "We will have a chance to see how an older neighborhood with a mix of housing types and mix of commercial uses will be incorporated in the new zoning code. Your input is needed."

The draft maps will go back to the Zoning Code Rewrite Advisory Committee later this fall and to the Plan Commission early in 2012. Public comments on the draft maps are ongoing and will continue until the maps are adopted.